Agencies to recognize top area water savers

A contest recognizing homes and businesses that practice water conservation methods in their landscaping is being sponsored by four San Diego County water agencies.

Winners within each of the four districts — the city of San Diego, Otay Water District, Helix Water District and the Sweetwater Authority — will be awarded $250 and be recognized in a May 8 ceremony at The Water Conservation Garden in Rancho San Diego.

Agency officials say they are looking for landscaping that is attractive and saves water. Ideas on using drought-tolerant plants are available at The Water Conservation Garden’s Web site at thegarden.org.

Contest applications are available at landscapecontest.com. Applications must be submitted by April 12.

Anne Krueger

Gayle Wilson named a cool woman of 2010

SAN DIEGO: Gayle Wilson, wife of former California governor and San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson, is among the women who will be honored by the Girl Scouts as one of San Diego’s 10 Cool Women of 2010 at a luncheon April 3.

Each year since 2001, the Girl Scouts San Diego-Imperial Council honors 10 women whose professional accomplishments, community contributions and leadership make them role models for girls.

Other women to be honored are community volunteer Barbara Brown; community volunteer Elizabeth Copley; triathlete/

The luncheon will be on the cruise ship Oosterdam docked at San Diego Bay. The suggested donation of $100 covers the meal, program and a tour of the ship. For more information, go to sdgirlscouts.org/cool.

Anne Krueger

Navy medical chief announces retirement

BALBOA PARK: Rear Adm. Christine Bruzek-Kohler, commander of Navy Medicine West and the San Diego Naval Medical Center at Balboa Park, announced her retirement last week.

A combined retirement and change of command ceremony is scheduled for August, when Capt. Clinton Forrest Faison III, deputy chief for medical operations at the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington D.C., will step in. Faison has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half).

Before taking command of Navy Medicine West in May 2009, Bruzek-Kohler had served as director of the Navy Nurse Corps since 2005. After she was commissioned as an ensign in 1974, she worked as a charge nurse at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. During more than three decades of service, Bruzek-Kohler was decorated with four Legion of Merit awards, two Meritorious Service Medals, and many other honors.

Bruzek-Kohler and her husband and children plan to return home to Northern Virginia after her retirement.